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Ring in New Year’s, with a twist

Metro area offers many events away from downtown Denver, high prices

A crowd dances at Lipgloss, an indie music-themed dance party that’s held at Milk Bar and Bar Standard dance club at 1037 N. Broadway in Denver.

Courtesy photo

The inside of BookBar, a wine bar and bookstore in northwest Denver at 4280 N. Tennyson St.

Courtesy of Skipping Rocks Photography

The inside of BookBar, a wine bar and bookstore in northwest Denver at 4280 Tennyson St.

Denver metro-area residents know the scene well: Hordes of friends and families huddled in downtown Denver to watch the fireworks wave the closing year goodbye.

But if the cold and crowds — and in the case of many of downtown’s parties, the cost — don’t sound attractive, New Year’s Eve in the metro area packs many lesser-known events off the beaten path that might do the trick, including something for introverts.

Dance to an ‘alternative’ beat

For those who miss when The Killers dominated the alternative music scene, central Denver’s Bar Standard dance club has the perfect event.

“It’s the kind of thing you’d want to do in your real life,” said Michael Trundle, DJ and promoter for the Lipgloss dance party. “You’re not doing it because you’re supposed to do it because it’s New Year’s Eve. You’re going to hear music you actually like and care about.”

Lipgloss, which bills itself as a dance party “for people who don’t usually like clubs,” is one of four dance events to be held at the Milk Bar and Bar Standard at 1037 N. Broadway in central Denver — just a few minutes from downtown — from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The event, titled “An Alternative NYE,” will include Lipgloss’ indie rock and indie pop dance floor, an `80s new wave floor, a goth floor and a synthwave floor. The multiple rooms also feature multiple bars, Trundle said.

“People dance all night,” Trundle, 46, said. “I’ve played New Year’s Eve parties where people just stand around like a junior prom or something. People just dance. My favorite thing is DJing to people who actually dance.”

The music will be non-top 40, and “everything from The Killers to LCD Soundsystem is what we’d play in the indie room,” Trundle said.

Tickets online are $15 for the presale and will go up to $20 on New Year’s Eve. Buy them at bit.ly/2QEKmgK.

For introverts, readers

A “boozy, bookish” night is in store at northwest Denver’s BookBar, where the Introvert’s New Year’s Eve Party will offer board games, coloring books, silent reading, snacks and, yes, a midnight countdown with a champagne toast and dessert.

“This event is particularly for people who don’t want to be at a loud bar,” said Kateri Kramer, 27, the events and marketing coordinator for the bookstore and wine bar. “It’s centered on community and ringing in the new year with good conversation, good drink and good friends because we believe that ringing in 2019 with the people we love is important.”

The gathering at 4280 N. Tennyson St. will include a full wine and beer menu and has no dress code. BookBar encourages browsing, Kramer said, and tickets include a 20 percent off coupon for any book purchase.

Tickets are $30 at bit.ly/2A7wCRn, and the event runs 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

`70s and `80s parties

The Viewhouse restaurant, bar and rooftop in Littleton and Centennial will host `70s- and `80s-themed dance parties, respectively.

The Littleton location at 2680 W. Main St. will feature live `70s music from local band Little Moses Jones, a rooftop DJ playing top 40 hits, `70s impersonators and more. The Centennial location at 7101 S. Clinton St. will feature Colorado `80s cover band The Goonies and a “back to the future” DJ. Party favors, a midnight champagne toast and more will liven up both events.

For those having dinner, reservations are required. Tickets for the Littleton event range from $10 general admission for the live music and DJ, to $65 including dueling pianos and the four-course dinner menu, with some options in between. Tickets for the Centennial event range from $25 general admission to $75 including the dinner buffet.

Tickets are available at bit.ly/2SZTXLE for Littleton and bit.ly/2Ah6t2L for Centennial. The events run 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

A low-key family outing

For those wanting to drink and have a meal away from the bustle of Denver — perhaps with family — Steuben’s restaurant in Arvada at 7355 Ralston Road will hold its Family Friendly New Year’s Eve.

The event offers “midnight” champagne and sparkling cider toasts at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., New Year’s Eve food and drink menus with “old school American classics” starting at 5 p.m. and a table-side magician providing family entertainment, said Johanna Ladis, a spokeswoman.

The following are results from state Legislature, county and municipal races, and ballot issues from the Nov. 6 election. Results for county and municipal offices and ballot questions were updated shortly after midnight on Nov. 7. For state Senate and state House, results were updated Nov. 8.